o hara



Patented Apr. 4, BBQQI. W. H. UHABA.

DREUGING APPARATUS.

(Application led F1115. 8, 1899.)

5 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

wlTNgssEs TN: puma Patins co., Hom-mwa.. wAsHlNsTnN. n. x.:

40.622,527. Patented Apr. 4, |899. w. H. oHAnA.

DREDGING APPARATUS. '(Appnmion med Faure, 1899.) (redundar.) asheets-'sheet z.

VENTOH M/.HUHARA me Nonms mim co., pHoro-uma. wAsmNsYoN. o. z:4

v No. 622,527. `Patented Apr. 4, 1899.

W. H. OHARA.

DREDGING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb. 6, 1899 (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

1HE Nonijs PETERS co. Fnomuwo. wAsnmGTuN, u. c

No. 622,527. munten Apr. 4, |899. w. H. UHARA.

DREDGING APPARATUS.

(Application led Feb. B, 1899.) (No Modal.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

www. E m v y gom @s bv vVAvAvAyA/w 19 l I atelltd AIH' 4 l 7 l IDH'EDGING APPARATUS.

(ApplicationI filed Feb. 8, 1899.)

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

YH: Nonms PETERS co. PrjoTuuTm.. wAsmNcnoN. ov l.

Nrrn STATES IVILLIAM H. OHARA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DREDGING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,527', dated April4, 1899. i

Application filed February 6,1899. SerallNo. 704,655. (No model.)

To all 1.072.071?. it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. OHARA,

. make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in dredgingapparatus, and has the following objects in view: first, the adaptationot' a plurality of jibs, each carrying an inclined track supportingtrolleycarriages, and a series of digging-clams suspended from saidcarriages in each instance; second, to obtain the maximum efficiency ofthe digging-clams by discharging the spoil into a stationary inclinedchute on the dredge, the

point of such discharge being at a minimum distance from the place ofdredging; third, to enable the digging-clams to operate throughout aconsiderable area without moving the boat itself; fourth, to dischargethe spoil from a plurality of digging-clams into a stationary inclinedchute without the use of auxiliary chutes; fifth, to discharge the spoilfrom the digging-clams always at the same elevation above the chute.

lVith these ends in View my invention consists in certain details ofconstruction and combination of parts, such as will be hereinafter fullyset forth and then specifically be designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertainsmay more fully understand the same, I will proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this application, and in which- Figure lis a side elevation of my improved apparatus; Fig. 2, a section at theline of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3, a brokensectional elevation illustrating a modification wherein thedigging-clams are conned and guided within a cage attached to the hullof the boat; Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating amodified construction whereby the digging-clams discharge the spoil atthe same elevation above the inclined chute; and Fig. 5 is a broken planview illustrating a modification wherein the jibs are arranged to swingafter the mann ner of a crane.

Similar numbers of reference denote like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

In all the views of the drawings I have shown the same elevation of thediggingclams for the purposes ot' a clearer understanding of myinvention, and I might further add that the twisting of the cables asthe clams are elevated or lowered causes various elevations to bepresented from the same point of View, and I merely mention this featurein order that it will be clearly understood that there is no defect inthe drawings.

Heretofore dredging apparatus has been provided in which a plurality ofdigging-clams were carried and operated at one end of the boat invertical guide-cages and the spoil has been discharged into a movableauxiliary chute prior to the delivery of such spoil into a conveyerwhich delivered the spoil into a scow or any proper receptacle; butgreat difculties have attended the use of this movable auxiliary chutein that it had to be arranged to swing into and out of position toreceive the spoil and to make way for the hoisting and loweringmovements of the dig-.

ging-clams, and the present invention aims to do away entirely with thisauxiliary chute and to utilize a jib or bowstring-girder constructioncarrying inclined tracks and trolley-carriages as the means whereby thedigging-clams may be supported and conveyed into proper dumping positionabove the inclined chute; but a serious drawback would exist in the useof such jibs or girdersexcept in the instance of a single digging-clam,for the reason that a gang of such jibs or girders 'being of the sameheight the spoil from the various'clams would be discharged into theinclined chute at different elevations, the result being that no chuteor dredging-boat could withstand the impact of the spoils.

In my present improvement I have succeeded in utilizing a plurality ofjibs or bow IOO string-girders in connection with but a single chute,and the spoils are discharged always at the same elevation above thischute, all of which will be readily understood from the followingdescription.

I have heretofore used the two terms jib and bowstring-girder, sincethey both answer fairly to the construction which I employ-namely, acurved arch-like structure secured at the upper end to a verticalsupport or buttress, such structure being subtended bywhat might betermed a strut or cord 3 but in order to have a uniform term I shallhereinafter refer to this arch construction as a jib, while the lowerbraces I will call struts; but it must be understood that the matter ofmere terms is immaterial and that the upper structure may be a truearch, a true incline, or might extend in a parabolic curve.

1 is the hull of the boat, and 2 is a vertical frame orbuttress properlysecured and braced in any ordinary manner upon the boat and preferablyat the loow thereof.

3 are bow-jibs whose upper extremities are secured to the frame, whiletheir lower eX- tremities are connected with said frame by struts 4;. 5are tracks supported by and depending from said jibs and extendingthroughout the length of the same, said tracks being in differenthorizontal planes for the purpose presently to be explained. 6 aretrolley-carriages having trolley-wheels 7, which rest and are adapted totravel upon these several tracks, and 8 9 are 'pulleys journaled withinthe lower portion of each trolley-carriage.

The digging-clams which I employ are of ordinary construction andoperation, and I will not herein enter into any description of the same,but will merely designate them by the numeral 10. The head from whichthe clams are suspended is designated by the numeral 11, and to thishead the cable 12 is secured. 13 is the cable by means of which theopening and closing of the clams is coutrolled, and these cables 12 13are passed, respectivel y, over the pulleys S 9, and thence to the usualwinding-drums, (not shown,) which are controlled and operated by anyapproved motive power.

14 is an inclined chtite supported in position at the forward end of theboat, immediately below the jibs, at or about the point where theyadjoin the frame 2. The tracks 5 are in different horizontal planes, ashereinbefore set forth; but these planes are in a single inclined plane,which is parallel with the plane of the chute 14, so that it will bereadily understood that when the cables have been operated to lift theclams into positions immediately above the chtite said clams will all beat the same distance from said chute, so that the spoils will in allinstances be deposited with substantially the same minimum of impactagainst the chute.

In lowering the clams the cables are both slackened so that the clamswill touch the soil to be dredged in open condition. The closing of theclams and the consequent digging function thereof are accomplished bythe winding up or pulling of the cable 13 in the usual manner, andthereafter the hoisting of the clams is effected by the continuedwinding of said cable until the head 11 strikes the trolley-carriage 6,and then the continued.

windin g of such cable will cause said trolleycarriage to travel upwardalong its track until the clams have been elevated and held suspendedimmediately above the chute. Then the slackening of said cable 13 willeffect the opening of the clams and the spoil will be depositedtherefrom immediately upon the chute, whence such spoils are conveyed toany suitable receptacle.

It will be readily understood that during the initial hoisting of theclams and until the head 11 strikes the trolley-carriage 6 there will beno upward movement of said trolleycarriage; but as soon as said head andtrolley-carriage come in contact they will practically become one andthe same thing, and the further winding of the cable 13 will effect theelevation of such trolley-carriage andhead.

It will be noted that the struts et for the greater part of theirdistance overhang the bow of the boat, so that it will be clear that byproviding suitable stops for the trolley-car riages--such as cross-pinsinserted through the jibs, or st-op-chains whose ends are connected,respectively, to the trolley-carriages and the frame, or stop-blockssliding on the tracks and controlled by ropes-the trolleycarriages maybe arrested in their downward sliding movements in various verticalplanes, so that the lowering, digging, and hoisting of the clams may beaccomplished nearer to or farther away from the bow of the boat, as maybe desired. Byarresting and controlling the limits of the downwardmovements of these trolley-carriages in the manner above described thedredging may be effected for a considerable distance in advance of theboat `without moving the latter, while in all instances the spoil isdeposited in the same vertical plane upon a single inclined chute andfrom heights always at the same distance from said chute.l

If desired, the clams may operate and be guided within any suitable cage15, as shown at Fig. 3, secured to the boat, and while such constructionmay be advisable while dredging in a heavy sea nevertheless it is'rather a rare precaution than a necessity. In case such cageconstruction should be used the inner portion of the cage would ofcourse be open, so as to permit the hoisting of the clams along thetracks of the jibs to the point at which the spoils are to be dumped.

In some instances it may be found advisable to arrange the jibs so thatthey will swing after the manner of cranes, and Ihave therefore shown atFig. 5 a construction wherein the jibs are pivoted at 1G to the frame,at the top thereof. In this construction (shown at Fig. 5) I haveillustrated two ways in which this pivoting may be accomplished, theconstruction at the right of the figure showing struts 17, pivoted tothe frame and to a crosspiece 13, which latter is pivoted at its centerto the lower end of the jib, while at the left of this figure I haveshown struts 19, rigidly secured at their ends to cross-pieces 21, theinner end of which latter is pivoted to the frame 2 in a direct linewith the pivotal point 1U. In utilizing these constructions (shown atFig. 5) the jibs are swung around by any suitable means until thevertical plane is reached in which the dredging is to be effected, andthe clams are then hoisted and carried into dumping position in themanner hereinbefore set forth with respect to the construction shown atFig. 1, and this hoisting of the clams may be accomplished withoutswinging back the jibs. Ido not, therefore, wish to be limited to thestationary jibs, since the gist of my invention resides chiey in thebroad idea of providing a plurality of jibs and so equipping them thatwhen the clams are hoisted aud carried into dumping position they willall be at the same height above the chute. This proper delivery of theclams prior to dumping with respect to the inclined chute may be broughtabout by gra-dations in the tracks 5, as shown at Figs. 1 and 2, or thetracks may all be in thc same horizontal plane, and the properelevations in the digging-clams may be effected by making the heads 11of different lengths, as shown at Fig. 4; but I prefer the formerconstruction,

since it is more compact, has less weight, will balance on thedredging-ground better, and is probably stronger.

In the operation of my improvement the clams are lowered into diggingposition by slackening the cables 12 13, and the clams are closed andelevated into dumping position by winding up these cables, care alwaysbeing taken to keep the cable 13 taut and under strain, so that the loadis mainly hoisted thereby. The spoils pass down the chute into anysuitable scow, or they may be delivered into a pump, such as usuallyemployed in the reclaiming of land.

I do not wish to be understood as laying any claim in a broad sense to ajib or bowstring-girder construction carrying an inclined track whichsupports a trolley-carriage; but

W hat I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a plurality of bow-jibscarrying inclined tracks, trolley-carriages adapted to travel on saidtracks, a series of independent digging-clams suspended from saidcarriages, means for operating said clams, the single inclined chutesupported by the dredgingboat, and means for effecting the delivery ofsaid clams in dumping position at a uniform distance from said chute,substantially as set forth.

2. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a plurality of bow-jibssecured to and overhanging the dredging-boat and provided with tracks,the inclined chute supported at the bow of said boat immediately beneaththe upper portions of said tracks; the trolleycarriages provided withtrolley-wheels adapted to travel on said tracks, the two pulleysjournaled in the lower portion of each trolleycarriage, thedigging-clams, the cables extending from said clams over said pulleys,suitable mechanism for hoisting and lowering said cables, and meanswhereby said clams are'held in suspension over said chute at a uniformdistance therefrom, substantially as set forth.

3. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a plurality of jibssecured side by side to and overhanging the dredging-boat and providedwith tracks, the inclined chute supported at the bow of the boatimmediately beneath the upper portions of said tracks, carriages adaptedto travel along said tracks, the digging-clams suspended from saidcarriages, cables attached to said clams, and means whereby the clamsare delivered in dumping position immediately above said chute and atthe same distance therefrom, Y

substantially as set forth.

4C. In a dredging apparatus, the combination of a plurality of jibsarranged side by side and secured to and overhanging the dredgingboatand provided with tracks in different horizontal planes, the chutesupported at the bow of the boat immediately beneath the upper portionsof said tracks and inclined to a plane parallel with the inclined planepassed through said tracks, the carriages provided with trolleys adaptedto travel on said tracks and having journaled in their lower portionspulleys, the digging-clams', and the cables extending from said clamsover said pulleys to suitable hoisting and lowering mechanism,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM II. OHARA.

Vitnesses:

F. IV. SMITH, J r., M. T. LoNcDEN.

IOO

